The Lewiston School Committee voted 5-3 against a redistricting plan for elementary schools.

The proposal called to redistrict McMahon-Geiger and Montello Elementary schools.

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Opponents said the plan would mean larger class sizes, while supporters said restructuring will promote diversity and improve skills for all students in the district.

"We feel really strongly in maintaining our neighborhood school so we had a lot of issues around the basis of the plan," said Jodi Wolverton.

Other parents said they are concerned about what this means for their children.

"Hopefully they'll get the information they need and make a decision in the future. I'm not sure how they're going to manage filling the classrooms," said Marnie Morneault.

Lewiston Superintendent Bill Webster said it would have meant rebalancing class sizes and evenly distributing students who don't speak English as a first language.

Webster said the failed proposal means a lot of changes he would rather not be in charge of making.

"There are many students at schools outside of district now and they won't be allowed to continue at that school but I will offer McMahon because that's where our space is," said Webster.

He also said he doesn't believe the committee's decision was a bad one, it just means moving forward in a different way.

"At the end of the day, when all the facts are on the table, the school committee made this decision and I don't think it's a right or wrong answer. I just think they made the answer they thought was in the best interest of Lewiston," said Webster.

Some of the committee members who opposed the plan said they did because too many people were against it and they didn't want to stick their neck out for a proposal so many people were against.